BUCHAN

[George Dyer, poet and English Jacobin, writes to the Earl of Buchan following a visit to his seat, Dryburgh Abbey, Berwickshire.] Substantial Autograph Letter Signed ('G Dyer'), discussing the preparation of his volume of poems and other topics.

Author: 
George Dyer (1755-1841), poet and radical, leading English Jacobin, in circle of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Godwin, Lamb; David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan (1742-1829), Scottish antiquarian
Publication details: 
Cambridge. Undated, but written shortly before the publication of his poems in 1801.
£2,000.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin stub from mount neatly adhering. A long, closely written letter of 116 lines, including eight-line postscript at head of first page. Addressed by Dyer on reverse of second leaf: 'To Lord Buchan | Dryburgh Abbey | Berwickshire | Scotland.' Buchan has annotated the reverse of the second leaf: 'George Dyer | Characteristic | while I reasoned with George Dyer in my Library at Dryburgh Abbey on the Economy of Nature and the Providence of God, I said Heaven itself will one day bear witness to my Words.

[ John Buchan; Tweedsmuir ] Typed Letter Signed "Susan Tweedsmuir" to E.V. Knox, poet, satirist, editor of 'Punch' responding to a letter of condolence.

Author: 
Susan Tweedsmuir,writer and wife of John Buchan, Lord Tweedsmuir (d. 1 Feb. 1940), writer, sometime Governor-General of Canada.
Publication details: 
[Printed heading ] Government House, Ottawa, 9 March 1940.
£80.00

One page, 4to, black-bordered, one corner chipped, minor marking, text clear and complete. "Thank you very much for your delightful little letter. My husband always so love your writing, and always quoted and enjoyed your parodies. He was a very careful reader of 'Punch', and had, in his time, contributed some things to it." She hopes he will visit her in Oxfordshire.

[ Alexander Buchan, Scottish meteorologist and pioneer in the field of weather forecasting. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Alexander Buchan') to Alexander Ramsay, regarding his election as a member of the Scottish Meteorological Society.

Author: 
Alexander Buchan (1829-1907), Scottish meteorologist, oceanographer and botanist, pioneer in the field weather forecasting, Secretary of the Scottish Meteorological Society [ Alexander Ramsay ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Scottish Meteorological Society, 122 George Street, Edinburgh. 9 May 1884.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and with wear to edges. Reads: 'Dear Sir | I have the pleasure of forwarding the official notice of your election as Member of the Society, and send by the same post a copy of the last issue of the Society's Journal. | Your subscription, as intimated, of 10/ may be paid at your convenience.'

[ Raymond Asquith, son of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith and member of 'The Corrupt Coterie'. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Raymond Asquith') to 'Dummett' [ Sir Robert Ernest Dummett ], regarding speaking at a political meeting.

Author: 
Raymond Asquith (1878-1916), son of British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, barrister and member of 'The Corrupt Coterie' [ Sir Robert Ernest Dummett (1872-1941) ]
Publication details: 
The first on letterhead of 1 Paper Buildings, Temple, EC [ London ]. 14 December 1908. The second (with mourning border) on letterhead of 49 Bedford Square, WC [ London ]. 8 January 1909.
£100.00

Both items in fair condition, with light signs of age and wear. ONE: 2pp., 12mo. He complains of having done 'no political speaking for 2 or 3 years now', and of being 'a poor hand at it even when in practice'. Dummett is nevertheless invited to 'command' him on 29 January. TWO: 3pp., 12mo. Circumstances having arisen, he has to apologise for 'crying off'. He is certain that 'in the 3 weeks which remain' Dummett will have 'no difficulty in securing a substitute who will be much more effective'. From the papers of Sir R. E. Dummett.

[ Jean Hyacinthe de Magellan, natural philosopher. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Magellan'), in English, to the Earl of Buchan, on topics including Adair Crawford's 'new theory of heat in general'.

Author: 
Jean Hyacinthe de Magellan [João Jacinto de Magalhães] (1722-1790), Portuguese natural philosopher, latterly based in London [ David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan; Adair Crawford (1748-1795) ]
Publication details: 
London. 21 September 1780.
£250.00

3pp., 4to. Addressed, with black wax seal, on reverse of second leaf to 'The Earl of Buchan at Kerkhill | by Edinburgh'. In fair condition, lightly aged. He is 'hardly relieved' from 'a very distressing ophthalmy withh great head-ackes [sic]', but thanks the Earl for 'sending the pamphlet of Dr. Homes on the Croup, for my friend Monsr. Le Roy, one of ye. Members of ye. Royal Acady. at Paris'. He is sending him the Philosophical Transactions, 'as regularly as they come out, by the indicated way of Mr. Donalson'. The 'Medal of ye late Captn. Cook [...] has not yet been distributed to ye.

[ David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Buchan') to John Cockburn Ross, recommending the 'Mr Jay who conducts the Commercial Academy' for the education of his son.

Author: 
David Steuart Erskine (1742-1829), 11th Earl of Buchan [ Lord Cardross ], Scottish aristocrat and antiquary [ john Cockburn Ross of Rowchester, Berwickshire ]
Publication details: 
Edinburgh. 18 June 1812.
£80.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf, 'To John Cockburn Ross Esqr. | Thorpe <?> | by Willerby | Yorkshire', and redirected to 'Crown Inn | Harrogate'. Recommending, 'in the view of preparing yr. young Son for commercial life', 'Mr. Jay who conducts the Commercial Academy', who was 'long ago in the House of Livingston & Co. Merchts at Rotterdam. He married a Daughter of Mr. Livingston and when the troubles in Holland forced him to leave it settled at Leith where he was involved in connections that proved unssuccessful from the disturbed state of Europe'.

[Alexander Davidson, Messenger at Arms.] Signed 'Copy for Mr. Falconer' of a summons on behalf of Archibald Colquhoun and George Buchan to six 'Procurators in the Sheriff and Baillie Courts of Glasgow, regarding the payment of stamp duties.

Author: 
Alexander Davidson, Messenger at Arms [Archibald Colquhoun; George Buchan; John Douglas; William Duncan; John Ewing; James Elder; Thomas Falconer; John Fleming; Stamp Duties, Glasgow; Scotland]
Publication details: 
Glasgow, Scotland: Copy of 28 May 1810 from an original 'dated & signeted [sic] 18. May 1810.'
£80.00

4pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium. The document consists of a long printed text, with blank sections completed in manuscript. It is docketted 'M.5 | Copy for Mr. Falconer | to appear 19/26 June 1810.' In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Signed 'Alex Davidson' and dated 28 May 1810, before the witnesses 'John Anderson and John Robertson both Indwellers in Glasgow'. The document begins: 'GEORGE, &c.

First leaf of Autograph Letter from the landowner and politician John Sawbridge, supporter of John Wilkes [to David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan].

Author: 
John Sawbridge (1732-1795) of Olantigh [Ollantigh], Kent, political supporter of John Wilkes; Member of Parliament for Hythe; Lord Mayor of London in 1775 [David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan]
Publication details: 
Ollantigh [sic]. 29 December 1772.
£40.00

2pp., 4to. 31 lines of text. Good, on lightly-aged paper, but the first leaf of the letter only. He writes that he is pleased to receive a letter from Erskine ('your Lordship') after 'so long an interruption'. 'I forebore till I had heard from you to take the liberty of congratulating you upon your Marriage' (Erskine had married the previous October). The second page ends: 'I have never been able to learn whether your Good Mother Lady Buchan was in England or not.

[Printed handbill poem by 'B. B.'] On a favourite Dog, interred in the Grounds of Dryburgh Abbey, MDCCCXIV. [With Victorian photograph of a dog.]

Author: 
'B. B.' [Sir Brooke Boothby (1744-1824)?] [Dryburgh Abbey, property of David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan]
Publication details: 
Date and publisher not stated. [Scotland, circa 1814?]
£400.00

Poem: On one side of a piece of 12mo paper. Fair, lightly-aged and a little ruckled, with traces of gum from previous mounting on the blank reverse. The 12-line poem is written in heroic couplets, and begins 'POOR, faithful animal, adieu! - | To Nature's kind affection true, | For fourteen years, thy grateful heart, | Devoted, play'd its humble part.' At the end a contemporary hand has ascribed the poem to 'B. B.', and the same hand gives the date as 'September 3d'.

Autograph Letter in the third person to Buchan, regarding 'Mr. Pitt', 'his abilities and fortitude' and 'the dilemma' arising from 'the present situation'.

Author: 
Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford (1737-1793), politician and art collector [David Steuart Erskine, eleventh earl of Buchan (1742-1829), antiquary and reformer]
Publication details: 
8 February 1784; Oxford Street.
£56.00

4to, 1 p. On piece of watermarked laid paper. Thirteen lines of text. Clear and complete. Good, on aged paper, with thin strip of stub adhering to blank reverse. Docketed at head, in a contemporary hand, '331 | Lord Camelford for fac simile'. Camelford was not at home when Buchan called, but he 'will take care that his Lordship's Letter shall be transmitted to Mr Pitt [his cousin William Pitt the younger?]'. Pitt 'will doubtless feel himself flatter'd with his Lordship's testimony in favour of his abilities and fortitude'.

Autograph postcard signed to J.G. Wilson, Chairman of Bumpus's, booksellers

Author: 
R.H. Bruce Lockhart
Publication details: 
21/02/33
£35.00

Author. Two sides of card used, thanking Wilson for obtaining for him an invitation from John Buchan to be a guest at the National Book Trade Dinner and for the "splendid showing" he arranged for his book (probably "British Agent") at Bumpus's.

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